Chair



(No Model.)

W. S. OBRIEN.

CHAIR.

Patented Oct. 31,1893.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM SMITH OBRIEN, or SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

CHAIR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 507,921, dated October 31, 1893. Application filed December 5, 1892. Serial No. 464,147. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I,WILLIAM SMITHOBRIEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at San Francisco, in the county of San Francisco and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Chairs, of which the following is a specification.

My invention consists of improvements in reclining or easy chairs, particularly in the means whereby the swinging back is held in the various positions to which it is adjusted, and in improvements in the foot rest and the means for adjnstingit.

In the drawings wherein my invention is illustrated,-Figure 1 is a perspective view of achair having my improvementsin the means for holding the adjustable back applied thereto. Fig. 2 isarear view of the same, part of the back covering being removed. Figs. 3 and 4 are perspective views of two different forms of the chair-back holding devices, detached. Fig. 5 is a side view of a chair embodying my improvements, the foot-rest being shown in a raised position. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the means for holding the foot rest raised. Fig. 7 is a perspective view, detached, of a foot-rest made in two parts, and the means for holding it extended or raised.

In the drawings A designates the seat portion of a chair, and B the swinging back hinged thereto so that it may be swung to any desired position. I prefer to use spring hinges to unite the back to the seat portion of the chair so that the back will rise easily when being moved forward. The arms of {ghe chair are-represented by O, and the legs D represents a bar or red secured to the rear side of the back by brackets e, which permit it to turn therein. This rod is provided at one or both ends with the crank arms 01, which are preferably formed with cross or angular engaging pieces d. The crank arms of the rod D or the cross pieces carried thereby engage with the ratchets E, which are preferably carried by brackets secured to some stationary part of the chair, as to the arms 0. These arms are held in engagement with the ratchets by a spring F, which is preferably of coiled form, as shown, secured at one end to the rod D and at the other to the chair back. If found desirable or parts of the cross bar D which engage therewith slide over them freely when the chair back is being moved forward; but they prevent them from moving in the opposite direction unless they are raised so as to clear the teeth.

G represents the handle by which the crank arms are disengaged from the ratchets. It is preferably in the form of a lever fulcrumed upon the rod D, where it projects beyond the side of the chair back, and has a forwardly projecting handle portion g in position to be easily grasped by the occupant of the chair, and an outward projecting part g which engages with some partof the cross bar D. This part, g, of the lever G is preferably bent so as to lie below and forward of one of the crank arms d. If thelever should be outside of the crank arm then, of course, the projecting portion g might extend inward so that it would have proper engagement with some part of the rod D. When the forward end of the lever G is pressed down the crank arm 61 is raised from engagement with the ratchet E, and the chair-back is then free to be swung backward to the desired extent. The lever G may or may not be used in moving the chair back forward, as preferred. If it be used, its forward end is usually raised somewhat above its normal position, which may be done without disengaging the crank arm or arms from the ratchets, owing to the loose connection of the lever with such arms, Which are, however, in the mean while held in engagement with the ratchets by the spring F.

As has been suggested, but one crank arm cl need be used, and such arm may be at the end of the bar D opposite to the handle G, as shown in Fig. 3. In this view the lever G is shown as being provided with a lug or finger h in place of the offset or angular portion 9' shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and the rod D is shown as having a short arm or lug h with which the finger h engages.

In the form of my invention shown in Fig. 4 the cross pieces 61' of the crank arms dproject outward instead of inward, as they are shown in the other views. In this view also the lever G is shown as being outside of the crank arm (1 adjacent to it, and as having a loose engagement with the shaft or rod similar to that shown in Fig. 3.

If found to be desirable the two crank arms 01 may be connected by a cross bar, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 4.

I represents an adjustable foot rest hinged to the forward portion of the chair. It may be made of a single piece, as shown in Fig. 5, or of two parts I, I, hinged together, as shown in Fig.7; the outer part,l,beingadapted to fold against the part I when not in use. Any preferred means may be made use of to hold the parts I and I of the foot rest in line with each other. The side pieces 11 of the foot rest are provided with ratchets j with which engage the ends of the levers or arms K which hold the foot rest in its raised or extended position. These arms K are secured to or formed with a shaft L secured to the under side of the chair frame by brackets or otherwise so that it is free to be rocked. v M is the handle by which the supporting arms K and the shaftL are moved. The axial line of the shaft is dilferent from the pivotal line of the foot rest so that when the ends of the arms K are in engagement with the ratchets j, the foot rest is held up by such arms. The handle M may be extended to any point convenient for being grasped by the occupant of the chair. The foot rest may be provided with a foot board N of any usual or approved construction. The parts for supporting the foot rest are so arranged as to be all concealed, except the handle M, when the foot" rest is down or folded under the chair, the arms K lying down by the inside faces of the legs 0.

In Fig. 7 is shown a preferred form of supporting and operating device for the foot rest when it is made in two parts I I. As shown in this figure the part I of the rest is provided with extension pieces 0 which extend rearward from the pivots uniting the parts I and I, and with these pieces 0 engage the forward ends of the arms K holding the part I of the foot rest extended when the arms engage with the ratchet j. When the handle M is raised to cause the disengagement of the arms from the ratchets j, the levers or arms tilt K in their downward movement engage with the pieces 0 and cause the outer part I of the foot rest to be folded up against the front face of the part I.

To provide a chair with my invention requires the use of but few parts, which are inexpensive of themselves, and can be easily applied,and when in place can be manipulated by the occupant of the chair without requiring him to leave his seat.

What I claim is- 1. The combination with a chair having a swinging back, of a rod or bar carried by the back and having a crank arm, a ratchet secured to a stationary part of the chair, with which the said crank arm engages and a handle for operating the said crank arm having a loose engagement therewith that is, one operating to move the crank away from the ratchet when the handle is moved in one direction, and not operating when it is moved in the other direction, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of a chair, the foot rest madein two partslandl', the former of which has secured to its sides the ratchets j, the extension pieces 0 carried by the outer part I, of the foot rest and extending beyond the hinge line connecting the two parts of the rest, the supporting arms which engage with the said ratchets to hold the foot rest extended, the ends of the said arms being in position to engage with the projecting pieces 0 of the part 1', substantially as described.

3. The combination of a chair having a swinging back, of a cranked rod or bar D carried by the back, a ratchet secured to a stationary part of the chair, with which the cranked part of the said rod or bar engages, the spring which tends to force the said cranked part of the rod into engagement with the said ratchet, and the lever G having a loose engagement with the rod or bar D,substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM SMITH OBRIEN.

Witnesses:

CHAS. E. FREDERICKS, P. H. PIODA. 

